The new airlift opportunity between Suriname and Barbados is being heralded as a milestone between the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states that will improve travel and business within the regional bloc.
This was the main sentiment from officials from both nations on Wednesday during a ceremony to mark the inaugural flight of Surinam Airways to Barbados at the Grantley Adams International Airport.
The airline plans two flights weekly, on Sundays and Wednesdays.
The airline’s chief executive, Captain Steven Gonesh, said his team was committed to making the flight a permanent feature and that it would strengthen the CARICOM spirit as well as boost connectivity in the Caribbean.
Describing Suriname as an important partner, Minister of Foreign Trade Sandra Husbands said it was one of the CARICOM countries that came together to give their citizens the best life possible in a region limited in resources, land size and population.
She said a major problem in CARICOM was logistics and the direct flights from Suriname to Barbados was a step in the right direction to reduce the problem.
“One of the biggest problems we have had is logistics. How are we going to move goods and people around the region? How are we going to do trade if people cannot meet and talk and do business? How are we going to do trade if we can’t move the things we make? And so the advent of Surinam Airways is a vital part of what we are doing here together. And what is it that we are doing? We are looking at what we have in the region, what are the airlines that are available to us and how we can redeploy them in a way to ensure that we are able to build the connectivity that would give us the trade and tourism which we need to be able to give our people a good
life; and that is why today is a wonderful moment,” Husbands said.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. Craig Hinds said the flights would connect Barbados with Suriname’s South American neighbour, Guyana and elsewhere in Latin America.
Surinam Airways’ Boeing 737-800 jet features 12 business, 96 economy and 42 premium economy seats.
Hinds noted that arrivals from Suriname were steadily increasing over the past few years. This year so far, there were 381 arrivals and in the peak season of 2016 and 2017, there were more than 700 visitors from Suriname and Guyana.
This development, he said, presented a prime opportunity for business and tourism.
(SZB)
